Problems · by component

2003 Mitsubishi Galant visibility problems

47 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant cite visibility, 34% of all 139 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
47
34% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the visibility

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE DEFROSTER, A/C, OR HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2014Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10618612
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE HEAT CONTROL MODULE WAS ACTIVATED BUT COLD AIR BEGAN TO CIRCULATE OUT OF THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2014VisibilityODI 10560747
“IN THE LATE WINTER OF 2011 MY CAR HEATER BEGAN TO MAKE STRANGE NOISES THEN WOULD WORK FINE. SOON AFTER THAT HAPPENED, THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING. ONLY COLD AIR WOULD PUSH THROUGH THE SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AC IS NOT CONSIDERED A NECESSITY, BUT I BEG TO DIFFER ON HEAT, CONSIDERING OUR TECHNOLOGICAL STATE. A HEATER KEEPS WINDOWS DEFROSTED AND CLEAR OF HUMIDITY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE CLOUD VISION OR WORSE, COMPLETELY HINDER TOTAL VISIBILITY. THE IDEA OF HAVING HEAT IN A CAR SEEMS LIKE A LUXURY BUT, IN REALITY IT IS REALLY A BASIC DRIVING NEED. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE AS TO WHY A CONSUMER SHOULD PAY $20,000, BRAND NEW, FOR A CAR THAT'S HEATER IS ALL TOO OFTEN BROKE BEFORE 60,000 MILES. THE COST OF REPAIR CAN EASILY COST $1000, DUE TO THE LABOR. THERE HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTS OF THEM BREAKING AGAIN, ONE YEAR LATER. THE HEATER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 03' GALANTS. IT KEEPS THE WINDOWS CLEAR SO CONSUMERS CAN SAFELY DRIVE THEIR CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2011VisibilityODI 10424373
“THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE BEGAN MAKING CLICKING NOISES ABOUT A MONTH AGO IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT V6 LS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. THEN THIS MORNING WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATE OF 41 DEGREES HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS THE HEAT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE IS NOW STUCK IN THE COLD MODE. I HAD TO DRIVE MY 2 YEAR OLD TO DAY CARE IN A COLD CAR. THE REPLACEMENT COST BY THE DEALER IS $1000. THE INTERNET FINDING SHOWS MOST GALANT OWNERS HAVE HAD FAILED HEATER CONTROL VALVE. THIS CAN PUT DRIVERS IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE WE CAN NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2010VisibilityODI 10360226
“2003 GALANT ES. V-6 MOTOR. HAD TO REPLACE HEATER CONTROL VALVE DUE TO NO HEAT. CLICKING NOISE FROM TIME TO TIME THEN NOTHING AS WELL AS NO HEAT. NO SOONER DID I REPLACE THAT AND THEN HEAT SELECTOR QUIT WORKING. CAN NOT CHANGE FROM VENTS TO DEFROST. MECHANIC SAID HEATER BOX WARPED AND COST ABOUT 2500.00 TO FIX THIS. NOW PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE RADIATOR BURST OPEN ON THE FRONT SIDE. ABOUT A 4 INCH OPENING JUST TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAP IF YOU ARE FACING THE CAR. MECHANIC HAS SAID ALL OF THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THESE CARS AND MITSUBISHI SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AS EVERY GALANT MADE HAS HAD SAME ISSUES.. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2010Engine and engine cooling, VisibilityODI 10356713
“I HAVE A 2003 GALANT AND MY HEATER HAS FAILED THERE IS AIR BLOWING BUT IT'S NOT HOT. WHEN I TURN THE DIAL FROM COLD TO HOT IT WAS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND WHICH I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE IN THE VENT AREA, THINKING MAYBE IT WAS JUST NOT TURNING. COME TO FIND OUT IT'S THE HEATER CORE AND IT'S OVER $500 TO REPAIR. I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE DATING BACK TO 2006 AND I BELIEVE THAT MITSUBISHI SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2009VisibilityODI 10287416

Showing 6 of 47 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.